Milan to Genoa

 We caught a bus from Milan and it headed south across pancake flat countryside for about half of the journey. Then within about a mile the landscape changed drastically and turned mountainous as we negotiated our way on a road that twisted and turned whilst climbing, sometimes through tunnels or over long bridges.

It was fine for a while although we were rolling in our seats. However, we had set off 30 minutes late and I think that the driver was trying to catch up for lost time. The final few miles to Genoa were all downhill on a dual carriageway and he got into the outside lane and descended like a grand prix driver. The only time I have seen anything like it before was when we caught a minibus in Thailand that was driven by a maniac.

We overtook every car on the road, shooting past them and taking up both lanes to do handbrake style turns on the very many switchback corners. 

We arrived in Genoa in a state of mild shock and then couldn't find our hotel. Eventually we realised that it must go through the ten foot high unwelcoming looking door in a very high wall. We couldn't get in but then some people arrived with their own key and we got inside to find a cavernous room with a grand staircase and then a lift.

It was a very strange contraption, but it worked well and eventually we found someone to let us in to our hotel, which took up only about a third of the third floor.

Once inside our room was lovely and spacious and had a balcony overlooking the city. We calmed down and made ourselves at home.

The next morning we started exploring Genoa. It is the sixth largest city in Italy and is by the coast just to the left of the top of the boot shape. It is a port city, the busiest in Italy, with a history of maritime trade over many centuries and has an old town full of beautiful palazzos and narrow streets.

The Via Garibaldi has twelve superb palazzos in one incredible row. It is difficult to show how amazing they were as they are so tall and close together. I was really keen to look inside at least one of them, but it was Monday, the only day of the week that they close.

We continued our wandering and ended up at the seafront and admired the beautiful painted building just above. Maybe there are just too many lovely buildings to appreciate here, but this one was in a bit of a tatty area with cars parked right in front of it. Worst of all though was a busy flyover that stretched out all along the coast spoiling the view and atmosphere of the waterfront.

It was built in the 1960's and was thought a good idea at the time, and it also pedestrianised the area underneath it, but not really in a good way. Back at the hotel I looked at a map because surely it would have been better somewhere else, but with the mountains behind the city and sea in front I couldn't see where else to put it either.

In 1451 Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, and huge crowds of people go to look at the front of his tiny house. We did too but without a guide so I don't know what they say. However, this wasn't really his house, but is an 18th century recreation, and I don't think that anyone knows where in the city was his actual birthplace. Interesting though. 

Then lots more amazing sights and a nice pasta and wine dinner later. 

Milan

Our full day in Milan started with a parkrun at Milano Nord. 

As usual, we arrived quite early, took a few photos and listened to the cheerful visitors briefing.

Standing very near to me was the dog in my photo who for the whole briefing was held in the arms of his lady owner. 

She then carried him right to the front row of the start line and put him on the ground. There were well over 200 people behind them and I thought that it was going to end badly.

However, at the word go Darren (who did a great time by the way), said that they shot off at great speed and they disappeared into the distance still at the front.

After the parkrun we had a well deserved rest and then set out to explore Milan.

We caught the Metro to the centre and up the stairs to a fantastic scene in the Piazza Castello.

Through the gates following some very stylish people into a courtyard.

A quick ice cream and then on to the Porta Sempione.

After that it became a blur of grand buildings and some very nice antique trams.

Eventually we reached a huge and ornate covered shopping centre. Everyone around us had made such an effort with their outfits and was promenading around with their friends.

We walked through the crowds and out the other side to the Duomo.

It is a magical sight and a lot of it has been cleaned so that close up it gleams in pink and grey as well as creamy yellow.

How long did it take to build such an incredible building I wondered. I asked Darren his opinion and he said about 14 years. 

I asked the internet for it's opinion and it said that work started in 1386 and it was completed in 1965, taking 579 years.

However, it was about half finished by 1402 but then they ran out of money for 80 years. 

By around 1500 it was usable but nowhere near finished, then in 1805 Napoleon ordered it to be finished and that France would pay for it.

This moved the work on quite a lot, but it was eventually celebrated on 6 January 1965 as complete.

Turin

 We only had the morning in Turin, so we made the most of it by setting off just after sunrise.

Turin is a major industrial city with very wide multi lane roads in a grid system. That's not too surprising as it was the centre of car production in Italy.

It also has 18 kilometres of porticoes for pedestrians.

They were huge and kept the walkways cool and shaded. They were also used in The Italian Job by Michael Caine to zoom around in a little convoy of Minis.

There are also enormous plazas that were mostly empty first thing in the morning.

And an incredible covered shopping mall 

Finally, and of course, it had to have some Roman ruins. This one is an ancient gate and part of an original Roman road.

The city centre is pedestrianised and it was a lovely walk. We could definitely have stayed longer, and I am sure that we will go back again.

Sanremo to Turin

Our last morning in Turin and we again walked past the statue of Mike Bongiorno.

We had no idea who this very cheerful looking chap was, but there was always a queue of ladies of a certain age waiting to get a photo with him.

Not wanting to miss out, we got the shot and then I looked him up. Apparently he was the best ever Italian chat show host.

Mystery solved.

We also popped into a Russian Orthodox Church with the lovely onion domes on the top.

Inside was very peaceful, and right at the top of the highest dome was a stained glass picture of Jesus looking down on us.

In the afternoon we caught a bus to Turin, and after the excitement and busyness of the last few days we decided on a quiet night in.  Turin will be just have to wait until tomorrow morning.

Sanremo

It was not far on the train to our next destination. We crossed the border on a French train and then had to change to the Trenitalia network for our final 15 minutes journey to Sanremo. 

In the morning we went for a run along a disused railway line that has been converted into a cycle and pedestrian path. It ran past the old train station and then had a Walk of Fame dedicated to the winners of the Milan Sanremo classic. 

It was a bit of a half hearted display, and there was handprints of Matthieu Van Der Pool who won it in 2025, although not many others. Disappointingly, they didn't have the wet concrete ready for Tadej Pogacher who won it this year as there was no sign of his prints. 

The path was a reminder of Bath as it also ran through an almost endless tunnel, except that this one was much bigger and more brightly lit. 

We are in a lovely hotel on the main pedestrianised street of Sanremo, and just off that is the start of the old town. The streets are incredibly steep and narrow and the houses all seem to support each other with flying butresses everywhere. 

In 1887 there was an earthquake and a neighbouring village was completely destroyed. The houses at the top of the hill in Sanremo were also destroyed and I am assuming that  either the butresses saved the lower part of the town, or they were added afterwards to hold the town up. 

It was a long climb to the top and there we found a beautiful church and amazing views over the town. 

Then back down to a bar just outside our hotel. 

We didn't order lunch because every time you order a drink at a bar, and we have tried a few, they bring enough tapas to almost make a whole meal. Darren loves it.